Please be advised that as of March 31st, 2013 cold storage warehouses storing and handling fish and seafood products as part of the supply chain for export to the EU are also required to be on the appropriate EU lists.

In order to export live, frozen or processed bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates or marine gastropods (excluding the adductor muscle of Pectinidae), establishments must be on the list found under "Section VII: Live bivalve molluscs". In addition, the products must come from a harvest area which is also appearing on this list, and harvest area(s) must be indicated on the EU health certificate exactly as they appear on the list.

For all other fish and seafood products, including the adductor muscle of Pectinidae, processors must be on the list found under "Section VIII: Fishery products".

SANCO has added the letter "F" as a suffix to the registration number of certain registered fish processing establishments appearing on the list of Canadian Exporters approved for the EU. This was necessary because these fish processing establishments shared the same registration number with other Canadian establishments appearing on lists of establishments approved to export other commodities, such as dairy products, to the EU. This suffix was added only for the purpose of maintaining the list. Exporters can maintain their label as is and do not need to add the "F" to the information recorded on the certificate.

Procedure to Update EU Approval Lists

Establishments wishing to be added to any EU Approval List must be in compliance with all aspects of the Fish Inspection Regulations, including Schedule I and II.

To request inclusion on any of the EU Approval Lists, please submit the following information to your local CFIA office.

Registration or fish export licence number

Full legal name as it appears on the certificate of registration

Physical site address as it appears on the certificate of registration

Species to be exported to the EU, indicating whether any aquacultured raw material is to be used

The name of the EU Approval List(s) you are requesting inclusion on

Please note that all additions, amendments and deletions will be forwarded to the EU for approval. The approval process takes approximately three (3) months, but time frames may vary depending upon circumstances beyond the control of the CFIA.

If an establishment currently included on any EU approval list undergoes a name change and/or a registration number change, the documentation and labelling must identify the old registration or export licence number and legal name, as recorded on the EU approval list, until such time as the list is officially amended.

Important Notes on Effective Dates for Additions, Deletions and Modifications to EU Approval Lists

Additions

Establishments requesting to be added to any EU Approval List should be aware of the following:

Processing for export to the EU may only commence following the date that CFIA submits the request for addition to the European Commission. These submissions are sent on a monthly basis and the processor should confirm that a submission has been made prior to processing for the EU market.

EU Health Certificates may only be issued following the Validity Date of the submission on the relevant EU Approval List. The Validity Date is the date on which a new or updated list enters into force, and appears on the top right corner of the EU Approval List. This date is typically about two (2) months after the submission to the European Commission has been sent, but time frames may vary depending upon circumstances beyond the control of the CFIA.

Modifications

Where a request is made to modify either the approval number or establishment name on any EU Approval List, the establishment must ensure that all documentation and labelling identifies the old registration number and legal name recorded on the relevant EU Approval List until such time as the list is officially amended and the Validity Date has been reached.

Deletions

Deletions are considered to be effective immediately upon submission to the European Commission. EU Health Certificates may only be issued until the last day prior to the date on which the request has been submitted to the European Commission.